December 09, 2015

Accenture to Expand Consulting, Digital and Cyber Security Services for Industrial Asset and Operations Management Through Acquisition of Cimation

Services to Help Clients In Oil and Gas, Pipeline, Chemicals, Metals and Mining Industries

HOUSTON; Dec. 9; 2015 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has entered into an agreement to acquire Cimation, an affiliate of Audubon Companies and an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) consulting company known for its work in process automation, information technology (IT) and industrial control system (ICS) cyber security. Together, the companies will provide end-to-end services to transform industrial asset operations and maintenance for oil and gas, pipeline, chemicals, metals and mining companies – from the sensors on field equipment, such as connected oil and gas wells, to boardroom performance reports.

The transaction supports the integration of enterprise IT systems and operational technology (OT) needed by resources industries to capitalize on opportunities such as automation solutions, production optimization, asset analytics and ICS cyber security. As a result, companies can better maintain, operate and optimize their wells, pipelines, refineries, chemical plants and mines.

“Industrial companies are realizing the value of IT-OT convergence to lower costs, increase productivity and improve reliability and safety,” said Peggy Kostial, Senior Managing Director for Accenture’s North America Resources operating group. “Our union with Cimation will expand our digital, management consulting and technology consulting capabilities to help clients achieve their goals of managing their assets more effectively and with greater security. Further, Cimation will bring a complementary client base and an excellent cultural fit with Accenture that includes a deep shared commitment to serving our clients across their industrial value chains.”

Cimation’s approximately 200 people, most of whom are located in the United States and Canada, will join the Accenture Asset and Operations Services group.

Founded in 2009 in Louisiana with executive offices in Houston and Metairie, Cimation has been included on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing companies for four consecutive years, where it ranked number 32 in the energy industry and number 31 in Houston in 2015. It was also number 22 on Forbes’ 2013 list of America’s most promising companies and has received numerous recognitions for its fast growth and business performance, including top rankings in lists of the Houston Business Journal and Control Engineering Magazine.

“Cimation is dedicated to providing its clients with the best possible industrial technology solutions, as is Accenture. Accenture’s global consulting practice combined with Cimation’s technical and process expertise will allow us to develop and deliver comprehensive, best-in-class solutions for our clients from strategy and governance to systems integration and remediation,” said Jonathan Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Cimation. “Together, we will apply our deep knowledge of industrial processes and our exceptional OT skills worldwide to improve our clients’ operations thanks to Accenture’s global delivery capabilities and extensive client base. This is a tremendous opportunity for our entire team.”

David Abood, Senior Managing Director, who leads Growth and Strategy for Accenture’s Resources operating group, added: “We’re excited about the Cimation acquisition. It marks an important step in our strategy to move beyond enterprise and back-office services into our clients’ asset and operations technologies and the Industrial Internet of Things.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

About Cimation
Cimation, an affiliate of Audubon companies, is an operations consulting company delivering secure technology solutions to the global energy and chemicals industries. As a vendor-agnostic firm, Cimation has executed thousands of reliable consulting, system integration and engineering projects that combine automation, industrial IT, enterprise data and ICS cyber security solutions. Armed with diverse project experience, process knowledge and technical expertise, Cimation’s global team improves its clients’ operations by engineering and integrating industrial technology that impacts safety and efficiency. Recent awards include: Inc.5000, Forbes most promising companies, Houston Business Journal (HBJ) Fast Tech 50 and HBJ Fast 100. For more information, visit www.cimation.com.

About Audubon Companies
Audubon Companies is a global provider of EPCM services for the oil & gas, petrochemical, refining, and pipeline markets. Equipped with experience and talent, Audubon Companies’ four affiliates – Audubon Engineering Solutions, Audubon Field Solutions, Cimation, and Affinity – deliver innovative and flexible solutions for repeatable project success -- safely, on-schedule, and within budget. For more information, visit www.auduboncompanies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for the company; the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; the company’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions, and a significant reduction in such demand could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if the company is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the markets in which the company competes are highly competitive, and the company might not be able to compete effectively; the company could have liability or the company’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data or information systems as obligated by law or contract or if the company’s information systems are breached; the company’s results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if the company cannot adapt and expand its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings by new entrants; the company’s results of operations could materially suffer if the company is not able to obtain sufficient pricing to enable it to meet its profitability expectations; if the company does not accurately anticipate the cost, risk and complexity of performing its work or if the third parties upon whom it relies do not meet their commitments, then the company’s contracts could have delivery inefficiencies and be less profitable than expected or unprofitable; the company’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the company’s profitability could suffer if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful, and the company may not be able to improve its profitability through improvements to cost-management to the degree it has done in the past; the company’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; the company’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; the company might not be successful at identifying, acquiring or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; the company’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; changes in the company’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in the company’s treatment as an Irish company, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations and financial condition; as a result of the company’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to the company’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; the company’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others; if the company is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; the company’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if the company is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that the company makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of the company’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; if the company is unable to collect its receivables or unbilled services, the company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected; the company’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; the company may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

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Contacts:

Guy Cantwell
Accenture
+ 1 281 900 9089
guy.cantwell@accenture.com

Justyna Devraj
Accenture
+ 44 20 7844 0090
+ 44 750 012 4567 (mobile)
justyna.devraj@accenture.com

Haley Rosowsky
Cimation
+ 1 713 580 4322
hrosowsky@cimation.com

Ivonne Hallard
Audubon Companies
+ 1 713 452 3127
ihallard@auduboncompanies.com